Imprinting machine



March 28, 1961 A. e. SAGER IMPRINTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 9. 1957 Illlll INVENTOR. ABRAHAM 6 SA GER MAM ATT'Y This invention relates generally to a machine for stamping or impressing a word, character or a series of words .upon a strip of metal or other material and is more particularly described as a machine for imprinting or inscribing a character, letters, Words or a special designation on the inside of a ring, although it may have a more general application wherever it can be used.

Rings are commonly engraved after they are completed and the metal of which they are made, may be stamped by hand with a designating letter, word or character, but the present invention relates more particularly to the imprinting or inscribing of some designation such as a name, a trademark, an indication of quality and the like, either before or after the ring has been formed and completed, and also when the ring has an outer decorated surface which might be endangered by stamping .or imprinting the inside of the ring.

An important object of the invention is to provide a printing machine for engaging one side of a strip or piece of material to imprint or impress some designation therein without damaging the other side of the strip.

A further object of the invention is to provide spring means for applying a predetermined pressure in the application of a strip or piece to be printed.

A further object of the invention is to limit the movement of a piece to be printed and to adjust the length or are of such a movement when the printing is applied to the inside of a ring.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide circular dies in connection with a circular head for imprinting a predetermined are at the inside surface of a ring; to removably connect the die upon a mounting member; to adjust the position of the die with respect to a piece to be stamped; to rotate the die by means of a handle; to limit the movement of the handle in both directions; to provide a handle for withdrawing the im pression head from its stamping pressure; to provide 'the head with cushioning material for engaging the outside of the ring; and in general to produce the printing machine herein shown and described.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the specification and will be apparent from the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a printing machine in accordance with this invention viewed from the printing side of the machine;

. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the printing machine 'from the opposite and adjusting side of themachine;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the operating mechanism as taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 4 is a further sectional view of the operating mechanism as taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

While this machine may be used for stamping or imprinting characters, letters and words upon the sur- Lfaces of strips of metal, plastic, wood and other materials, it is particularly designed for impressing such designa- -.tions at the inside of a ring and to do so without mairing or damaging the outer surface of the ring.

United States Patent 1 Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a printing machine of this kind comprises a supporting base 10 which may be secured by means of holes 12 to a work bench or any suitable support. Projecting upwardly from the base and supported firmly thereby is a rigid metal bar 14 having a holder 16 secured at the upper end thereof.

In the holder 16 is a transverse bore 18 having a shell 20 rotatable therein in bearings 22 at opposite sides of the holder. One end of the shell has a larger head 24 abutting the side of the holder 16 at one end of the bore and holding the bearing 22 at that side in place, and at the other side of the holder is a removable plate 26 attached to the outer side of the holder by screws 28 or other suitable fastening devices, the plate 26 abutting this end of the shell 20 and retaining the bearing 22 at this end of the shell in place.

Within the shell 20 is a spindle 30 having a reduced threaded extremity 32 which extends through the opening 34 in the head 24 which is the same diameter as the inside of the shell and through a plate 36 secured to the outer side of the head 24 by screws 38 or other suitable fastening means. Threaded on the outer end of the extremity 32 is a knob 40 by means of which the spindle 30 may be adjusted in the shell 20. Surrounding the threaded extremity in the opening 34 of the head 24 is a spiral spring 42 which abuts a shoulder of the spindle at the inner end of the threaded extremity at one end of the spring and the plate 36 at the other end of the spring. This spring tends to push the spindle 30 outwardly at the other end of the shell and the amount that it protrudes is determined by moving the knob 40 on the threaded extremity 32. The bearings 22 mount the shell tightly in the bore 18 of the holder 16, retaining the shell against end movement therein.

At the outer end of the spindle 30 is a screw 44 inserted into a threaded opening 46 at the end of the spindle and mounted on the screw is a spacing washer 48 and a die member 50 which are fastened tightly against the end of the spindle by means of the screw 44. The die member is thus positioned to project from the end of the holder 16 and beyond the plate 26 which abuts the end of the rotatable shell 20.

The spindle 30 is adjustable longitudinally in the shell 20 by means of a key-way 52 extending lengthwise of the spindle and a key or pin 54 connected to the shell and extending into the key-way so that they are rotatable together.

Projecting from the head 24 of the shell 20 is a stiff rod 56 at the outer end of which is a handle 58 for turning the shell and also the spindle 30. It is desirable to limit or control the rotational movement of the shell and consequently the angular movement of the die member 50 at the end of the spindle and this is effected by means of a plate 60 secured to one side of the holder 2 16 by bolts 62 which extend through a spacing bar 64 and into the side of the holder or the upright bar 14 which supports the holder. This spaces the plate 66 from the adjacent face of the holder a distance equal to the thickness of the bar 64 so that the rod 56 is closed to the inner face of the plate 60, and the plate has a curved portion 66 concentric with the axis of the spindle 30 and the head 24 into which the rod 56 is connected. The central portion of the plate is formed with an opening 68 through which the knob 40 and the outer end of the spindle 32 project so that the position of the spindle may be easily adjusted from the outer side of the plate 60.

In the curved portion of the plate is a slot'70 through which threaded ends 72 of thumbscrews 74 project and engage nuts 76 at the inner side of the plate for freely adjusting and varying the positions of the thumbscrews.

:The threaded ends of the thumbscrews extend in the path 1 the slot 70, the arcuate path of the rod and the spindle may be adjusted and limited as desired. This correspondingly varies the angular rotation of the die member 50 and the arcuate path of the marking die thereon.

Below the imprinting die 50 atv the end of the spindle 30 is an impression head 80 comprising a circular disc 82 mounted centrally upon ahollow shaft. '34 with ahead 8'6 to engage the disc 82 and press it against a threaded spacer nut 87 at the inner end of the hollow shaft 84. An outer circular plate 88 of the same outer diameter as the disc 82 is confined against the disc by screws 78 or other suitable fastening means. The disc has a recess 90 with a beveled upper edge 92 which together with the circular plate 88 forms a peripheral groove in which a ring-like filler 94 is accurately fitted and seated, the outer surface being flush with the outer edges of the plate 88 and the beveled edge 92.. This filler is preferably leather, plastic or fibrous material which provides a resistant and somewhat yielding surface for contacting an outer decorated surface 96 opposite an inside plane surface 98 of a finger ring 100 which is positioned with a die 50 engaging the inner surface and the outer surface 96 in con-tact with the resilient filler 94.

The impression head 80 is mounted for movement toward and from the face of the. die member 50 by means of a block 102 into which the threaded end of a pivotal mounting screw 104 is inserted. This screw 104 also mounts the impression head 80 for lateral adjusting movement relative to the die 50 and a ring 100 by mounting the threaded spacer nut 87 intermediate its ends and abutting the inner end of thehollow shaft 84 and the inner side of the head 80, the headof the screw 104 engaging the outer side of the head 86 of the hollow shaft, the impression head being also rotatable with or upon the hollow shaft 84.

The impression head 30 is rotatably mounted below a ring engaged at the inside by the die 50 but this head is either frictionally mounted upon the hollow shaft 84 or is pressed yieldingly against the adjacent surface of the holder 16 so that it does not rotate freely but is rotated through a limited arc with the compressible filler 94 in contact with the outer surface of the ring. The block 1-02 is mounted for vertical sliding movement between guides 106 and 108 secured to the upright bar 14 of the holder with a plate 110 secured to the outer faces of the guides by screws 112 or other suitable fastening means to confine the block to a vertical movement. Atthe bottom of the block 102 is an expansible coiled spring 112 which is centered about a pin 114- secured into the base at its lower end and terminating at a distance from the raised position of the block 102 so that one end of the spring bears against the base 10 and the other end of the spring bears against the bottom of the block tending to force it upwardly likewise tending to press the impression head upwardly.

In one of the guides 108 is a recess 1 16 through which the mounting screw 104 and the hollow shaft 84 of the impression head 80 extend to allow movement of the iming it, the block 102 is manually movable by means of a screw bar 118 which extends through a follower nut 120 secured to the block 102 by a threaded projection 122 extending into the block through an opening 124 in the plate 110 which permits a sufficient movement of the block 102 to withdraw the'impression head. The upper end 126 of the screw bar 118 is seated in a recess 128 of theholder 16and through the lower end of the screwbar.

4 a handle rod 130 is connected, the outer end of which is provided with a handle 132.

In operation, the threads of the screw bar 188 are comparatively large so that a partial rotation of this bar by means of the handle rod 130 causes a downward movement of the follower nut and of the block 102 against the tension of the impression spring 112. This supports the contact surface of the filler 94 from the die member 50 so that a ring 100 (or other material to be imprinted) may be inserted or removed from between the impression head and the die member.

When a ring is inserted at the end of a spindle so that the die member will engage the inner surface thereof, the handle rod is turned in the opposite direction causing the spring 112 to press the filler 94 against the outer surface of the ring and to press the inner surface of the ring against the imprinting portion of the die member 50. At this time, the spindle 30 and the die member 50 are manually rotated by means of the rod 56 and its handle 58 between the limits previously set by the thumbscrew 74 and consisting of the threaded ends 72 thereof. If desired, the handle 58 may be moved back and forth between the-limiting threaded end 72, correspondingly rotating the spindle and the die member 50 within the ring and more clearly imprinting the inner surface of the ring or any material engaged by the die member.

When the desired impression has been clearly made, the impression head is withdrawn by swinging the handle rod 130 as. previously explained releasing the article imprinted and providing for the insertion of another article. During the imprinting of an article, the frictional engagement of the impression head caused by the spring .112 causes a corresponding frictional rotation of the ring or other material in contact with the filler 94, which being of leather or other resilient impression receiving material will not damage or mar the outer surface of a. ring, or other material in contact therewith.

While a preferred construction has been described in some detail, it should be regarded by way ofexampleand illustration rather than as a limitation or restriction of the invention as various changesin theconstruction, combina tion and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An imprinting machine comprising a support, a die member rotatably mounted in the support and projecting at one side thereof, a pressure head movable in the support toward and from the die member, resilient means tending to press the head toward the die member and to confine a part to be imprinted between the pressure head and with one side in contact with the die member, the die member imprinting only the surface in contact with the part by rotation of the die member, a resistant yielding backing carried by the head to protect a decoratedsurface in contact therewith, and operable means for opposing said resilient means to withdraw the head from engaging the part and releasing it from thedie member.

2. A printing machine comprising a support and a rotatable die member projecting at one side therefrom, .a pressure head movable toward and from the die memher and to confine a part to be printed therebetween, the die member engaging and imprinting one side of a part to be printed which is backed and supported at the other side by the pressure head as the die memberis rotated, a yielding resistant backing carried by the head to protect and prevent distortion of a surface directly in. contact therewith,'and resilient means tending to press the head against a part. between the die member and the head and with sufficient pressure to imprint the part as .the die memberiis rotated.

3. A printing machine in accordance with claim 2, in Which'thepressure head and said, backing are also rotatable with the die member in imprinting one-sideofe part therebetween,

4. A printing machine comprising a support and a rotatable die member projecting. therefrom, a pressure head movable toward and from the die member and to confine a part to be printed therebetween, the die member engaging one side of a part to be printed which is backed and supported by the pressure head as the die member is rotated, resilient means tending to press the head against a part between the die member and the head with sufiicient pressure to imprint the part as the die member is rotated, the pressure head being rotatable with the die member in imprinting a part therebetween, and means to limit the rotational movement of the die member in both directions.

5. A printing machine in accordance with claim 4, in which the die member is mounted upon a rotatable spindle, a handle rod projecting from the spindle, and adjustable means engaging the handle rod to limit its movement in both directions.

6. In a printing machine in accordance with claim 5, a plate with a curved slot supported adjacent the handle rod and means adjustable in the curved slot having projections in the path of the handle rod to limit the movement of the die member in both directions.

7. In a die printing machine, a support, a spindle rotatably mounted therein, a die secured to the spindle, a mounting sleeve interposed between the support and the spindle, means limiting the movement of the spindle in the sleeve to a longitudinal direction, adjusting means at the end of the spindle for varying the longitudinal position of the spindle in the sleeve, a pressure head movable toward and from the die member for receiving a part to be printed between the head and the die member, and resilient means tending to press the head toward the die member and to receive the impact of the die member upon a part to be printed when the die member is rotated.

8. In an imprinting machine in accordance with claim 7, the spindle extending through the sleeve, the die member carried by the spindle at one end thereof, the other end of the spindle having a threaded extremity, a knob threaded upon the extremity against the end of the sleeve, and resilient means between the spindle and the sleeve at the knob end tending to press the die member out of the sleeve at the other end.

9. In a printing machine in accordance with claim 8, means to limit the rotary imprinting movement of the die member and its spindle in both directions, comprising a plate having an opening through which the adjusting knob extends, a handle rod projecting from the adjacent end of the supporting sleeve and adjustable means in connection with the plate for limiting the movement of the handle rod.

10. An imprinting machine comprising a support and a spindle rotatably mounted therein and one end projecting therefrom, a die member mounted on the projecting end of the spindle, a rotatable pressure head movable toward and from the die member for receiving a part to be printed between the head and the die member, resilient means tending to press the head toward the die member, operable means for opposing the resilient means to withdraw the head from the die member, and means mounted in the periphery of the pressure head for yieldingly engaging and protecting one surface of a part to be imprinted from being marred or damaged, the other surface of which is engaged by the die member.

11. An imprinting machine in accordance with claim 10, in which the pressure head has means forming a groove in its outer periphery, said means for protecting and engaging one surface comprising a filler of resilient material seated in the groove to form a backing for a decorated surface of material engaged by the die for imprinting.

12. An imprinting machine in accordance with claim 10, in which the pressure head is mounted for rotation on a spindle, a mounting block to which the spindle is connected, and a guide for the mounting block, said resilient means being arranged to press the mounting block and the pressure head with its engaging and protecting means toward the die member and the spindle.

13. An imprinting machine in accordance with claim 1-2, in which the operable means comprises means engageable with the mounting block to press it oppositely against the resilient means to withdraw the mounting block and said engaging and protecting means from the die member for inserting and removing parts to be imprinted from between them.

14. An imprinting machine comprising a support and a spindle rotatably mounted therein, a die member mount ed on the spindle, a rotatable pressure head movable toward and from the die member, means mounted in the periphery of the pressure head for yieldingly engaging one surface of a part to be imprinted, the other surface of which is engaged by the die member, a spindle on which the pressure head is rotatably mounted, a mounting block to which the spindle is connected, a guide for the mounting block, resilient means to press the mounting block and the pressure head toward the die member and the spindle, and means engageable with the mounting block to withdraw the mounting block from the die member for inserting and removing parts to be imprinted from between them, said last means comprising a screw bar-and a rod to rotate it, and a follower nut movable on the screw bar and connected to the mounting block for compressing the resilient means and withdrawing the pressure head.

15. In a ring imprinting machine, a support and a spindle rotatably mounted therein, a die member mounted on the spindle at one end thereof of a size'to fit loosely within the ring, a pressure head movable toward and from the die member at the outside of the ring, resilient means tending to press the head toward the die member with the outer and inner surfaces of the ring therebetween, means to rotate the die member for imprinting the ring surface against the pressure head held by said resilient means, and operable means for opposing the resilient means acting upon the pressure head to withdraw the head from the die member for releasing and replacing rings therefrom and therebetween.

16. In a machine for imprinting rings, a support and a spindle rotatably mounted therein, a die member mounted on the spindle to fit within a ring, a pressure head movable toward and from the die member at the outside of the ring, resilient means tending to press the head toward the die member with the outer and inner surfaces of the ring therebetween, means to rotate the die member for imprinting the ring surface against the pressure head held by said resilient means, operable means for opposing the resilient means acting upon the pressure head to withdraw the head from the die member for releasing and replacing rings therefrom and therebetween, the die member imprinting the interior surface of a ring by rotating the die member against the inside surface of a ring, means for limiting the rotation of the die member, means mounting the pressure head for movement with the die member with the ring therebetween and thereby rotating the pressure head, and means in connection with the pressure head for resiliently contacting the outer surface of a ring between it and the die member for preventing the outer surface of the ring from being marred or damaged when the inner surface of the ring is imprinted.

17. A machine for imprinting the inner surface of a finger ring, comprising a support and a spindle rotatably mounted therein, a die member mounted on the spindle and adapted to engage the inner surface of a ring, means limiting the rotation of the die member and spindle in both directions, a pressure head movable toward and 7 from the die member and to engage the outer surface of a ring between it and the die member, resilient means tending to press the head toward the die member deter- Z miningthe pressure which the die member applies to imprint the ring, the pressure head being rotatable with the die member and the ring as the die member is rotated,

and manually operable means for opposing said resilient means to withdraw the head from its pressure against the 5 .outside of the ring for inserting and removing the ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Baker July 19, 1887 Moody r May 27, 1902 Gabel Feb. 2, 1926 

